Siba was founded by Emilio Balzarini in 1967. Starting from a small farm in the Alps, he gradually expanded his business as livestock trader, since demand for meat was rapidly increasing in Italy at that time. To meet this demand, it became necessary to import large quantities of cattle from other European countries as well as Bulgaria, Romania and USSR.
Due to the poor road links at that time, Mr. Balzarini had the idea of fitting cargo ships with stables to improve the transportation of livestock. The Siba fleet began with three small vessels – Siba Brescia, Siba Bari and Siba Edolo. A new market emerged, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, the fleet continued to grow. In 1979, the Siba Queen was launched and in 1980 the flagship Uniceb, a giant at her time, was delivered.
As volumes continued to grow, larger vessels were required. Over the years as many as 25 vessels were converted into livestock carriers by Siba. In 1998 Siba delivery of the first ever purpose built livestock carrier, the MV Alnilam, and on the grounds of its extensive and long dating experience in the sector, Siba ordered the construction of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced livestock carrier, the MV Becrux, that was delivered in May 2002. In 2006 Siba became the owner of the largest livestock carrier ever built, the MV Deneb.
The commitment of the company to enhance the operational standards and the animal welfare is further witnessed by the substantial investments undertaken for the construction of two additional new buildings, MV Castor and MV Pollux, that will joint the operations in 2009 plus two more vessels, same size and features of the MV Becrux, that will be delivered in 2011.
As a result Siba has achieved and consolidated a position of worked leader in the transport of livestock setting the pace for the application of new technology and best practice in this industry.
To take full advantage of its experience in the shipping business, in 2005 the company started to diversify in the dry bulk and tanker sectors, first by chartering in tonnage and then by building its fleet of owned vessels. As a result the company currently operates a fleet of 16 units on medium long time charters, and in the coming three years will take delivery of 9 more chartered in and 5 owned vessels.